Don't waste your breath

How do you tell someone he has halitosis? I'm considering ending things with a smart and attractive guy because I don't want to face rejecting him again.

In Halitosis Hell

Dear In

You say, "Um, I think you might need to floss." You'd want to know.

You'd also want the guy who told you to disappear so that no record of this horrific moment existed outside your own head--but you were going to flee anyway, so no problem there. And if you lose your nerve, three words: wimpy anonymous tip.

Carolyn:

My fiance of eight years has a group of friends called the "sisters circle." None of these girls is in a successful relationship, and some of them are quite bitter about it. I know misery loves company, and I am concerned they will try to interfere with our relationship so my fiance could be single, bitter and lonely like the rest of them.

Washington

Dear Washington,

Please define "successful relationship."

Not that it matters. They're her friends; she's entitled to them and their opinions. Plus, it can't hurt to treat her as if she's capable of maintaining her own point of view.

Besides, they've had eight years to interfere, and you're somehow still engaged. If anything is going to come between you two, it'll be that it's been eight years and you're somehow still engaged.

Dear Carolyn:

At what point do you generally know someone isn't interested in you?

Detroit

Dear Detroit,

When someone doesn't make an effort to see you. People get busy, overbook, lie to each other and put up inscrutable signs, but this you can count on--when they want your attention, they make the time to get it.